Conti was drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh in the 32nd round of the 1996 amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. After five years in the Diamondbacks organization – including parts of two seasons at the Major League level – he was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays along with pitcher Nick Bierbrodt for pitcher Albie Lopez and catcher Mike DiFelice. Prior to the start of the 2003 season, Conti was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for catcherJavier Valentín. After the conclusion of the 2003 campaign, Conti signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers and spent two years in the club's system, hitting .328 during one campaign with their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma Redhawks. While with Texas, Conti grabbed attention by robbing Houston's Carlos Beltrán of an extra-base hit by climbing up the center field mound known as Tal's Hill, and making an over-the-shoulder catch at Houston's Minute Maid Park.

In total, Conti appeared in 182 games over the course of his five seasons in the big leagues. His best showing was in 2002, when he played 78 games for the Devil Rays, batting .257. Overall in his career, Conti hit 6 home runs and had 47 RBI.

Conti gained slight fame during his major league career by showing off an excellent defensive throwing arm from the outfield. Conti, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, on consecutive nights threw out Atlanta's Brian Jordan at third base with throws from deep in right field. A few seasons later as a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Conti gunned down Chicago's Frank Thomas at home plate on consecutive nights.